Lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activities in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with peripheral neuropathy

Background: Diabetic neuropathy is one of most common complication of diabetes. The suggested factor for the development of diabetic neuropathy is increased lipid peroxidation which is a result of enhanced free radical generation and decreased antioxidant defence.Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry, JSS Medical College, Mysore. Thirty patients with diabetic neuropathy, 30 diabetics without any complications & 30 age and sex matched controls were included in the study. Glycated haemoglobin, superoxide dismutase were estimated in whole blood by latex agglutination inhibition assay and INT reduction method respectively. Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) was estimated by thiobarbituric acid assay. SPSS version 16 for windows was employed for statistical analysis.Results: Mean serum TBARS levels were significantly greater in diabetic neuropathy. There was significant negative correlation between serum TBARS and SOD in cases (r=-0.176). Highly significant negative correlation was found between SOD and HbA1c in cases (r=-0.168).Conclusions: There exists an inverse relationship between TBARS and antioxidants in diabetic neuropathy and is a result of poor glycaemic control